I'm sorry I can't help you much with factual details, but I believe most programmers who are serious about using 3DS for their models, just write a custom export plugin (or whatever it is called) in 3DS, so you can save it immediately in your own, propietary format.

If that's not an option, consider exporting to ASE, it is a text-based format. I've heard it's not entirely bug free, but you might have better luck writing a class to parse that.

I don't know wheter I made myself clear in the post above: each one of the links I put above contains a link with a solution for my problem which is in this very forum, but these links are unavailable due to forum maintenance...

Does anyone know when they'll be available? I really need that answer....

java-gaming.org is not responsible for the content posted by its members, including references to external websites,
and other references that may or may not have a relation with our primarily
gaming and game production oriented community.
inquiries and complaints can be sent via email to the info‑account of the
company managing the website of java‑gaming.org